Making a name for yourself to the level of Fairouz in the music industry is tough enough as it is, but for two Arabs living in Toronto, it’s even more difficult. Founders of BABL, Yezen Baban and Omar Habbal know this all too well, and yet seem confident in their future rise to musical stardom. “I was always passionate about music and decided I needed to explore it. I bought a MIDI, a beat pack and a drum machine, and I just started messing around with it during my last year of university,” shares Baban. But to turn a simple passion or hobby into a potential career takes a lot more than experimentation. To his surprise, Baban realised he may have discovered a hidden talent. When Habbal first heard one of Baban’s sample beats, he knew he had stumbled upon a potential pivotal moment for the both of their careers, and thus, BABL came to life. Read their full story, and hear their new Fairouz-sampling hit, through the link in our bio. Story: @leenalsaadi